Harvesting machine



0d. 3, 1933. Q POEN 1,928,868

HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19. 19:51 3 sheets-sheet 1 @wz/f Paf/yOct. 3, 1933. Y o. PoEN 1,928,868

HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o Q Q f f7 o il*t f/ N l?, SWW/whos Oct. 3, 1933. o. Pol-:N

HARVESTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 19, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 S11/vento@O/yr/f Pof/v Patented Oct. 3, 1933 UNITED vSTA TES- HABVESTING MACHNEOntje Imoen, Matheson, Colo.4

Application November 19, 1931 Serial No. 576,181 l 9 Claims.

This invention vrelates `to a harvesting `machine, more particularlydesigned for vine plants, such as.V beans, peas, etc., and has for itsprincipal object the provision of a harvesting machine which, whendrawnV along the rows of plants, will cut the vines, gather and elevatethem to a. piling device, and leave them in neatpiles on the field.' v lAnother object of the 'invention is to so construct the machine that itwill handle a plurality of rows of vines simultaneously andso that itcan be 4adjusted to accommodate different row spacings. I

Still another object of the invention is to so'construct Athe pilingdevice that it can be swung to deposit the piles at either side of, orin the rear of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to pro-.- vide efficient adjustmentfor'the cutters so that the vines can be cut at any desired height,together with means for lifting the .vines from the ground before thecutting 1'operation so that they will not be damaged by the cutters.

Other objects and. advantages Vreside in the detail constructionV of theinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.These willbecome more apparent from the following description. n Y

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is hadyto the accompanying drawingsv which form a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the vdrawings and throughout thedescription.

In the drawings:- v

Fig. 1 is a plan view'of the complete machine.

Fig. 2 is a right side view thereof., Y*

Fig. 3 is a left side view; of the rear portion of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail-perspective view of the forward'extremity of the vine elevator illustrating the cutting knives. l

Fig. 5 illustrates a lateral sectiontaken on the line 5 5, Fig. 2. Inthis'view the elevating chains and guide members have'been omitted forthe sake vof clearness. y,

' Fig. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the link belt elevating chain.y

Fig. 'I isa detail section through onejof the guide channelsillustrating .the resilient construction of the cross brace members.

The invention comprises a main frame 10gsupported on forward guidewheelsnll and rear drive wheels 12.A The guidewheels llarearrangedto bedirected from a tongue 13 through the mediumA of a steering connectingrod 14. The rear (ci. I.5e-157) drive wheels are free to rotate upon adrop axle 15 which extends entirely across and beneath the frame 10. Alongitudinal strut 16 extends through the middle of the frame 10 andprojects beyond the rear thereof. A lateral channel member 1'7 extendsacross the frame 10 adjacent its forward extremity.V Y

A pair of yokes 18 are suspended fromthreadedshafts 19 which extendthrough arcuate 'slots 20 in the cross channels 17.' The threaded shafts19 receive threaded nuts 21 formed with suitable handles for convenientrotation. Short stud shafts 22 are lsupported in suitable bearings'bythe yokes 18 attheir lower extremities. Each of the stud shafts isVprovided with a Ysprocket 23 and a circular cutter knife 24. The twocircular knives of each yoke co-operate with each other to exert ashearing 'Vor cutting vaction on each row of Vines over which themachine is driven.

The two yokes 18 can be separated or brought together to accommodatevarious plant row spacings by means of a crank handle 38. The crank 38operates a worm gear 39 secured on a vertical shaft '440. The lowerextremityof the shaft 40 is provided with a pair of double levers 41,the extremities of each offwhich are connected by means of connectinglinks 42 to Aeach of the yokes 18. Thus, by rotating the crank 38 theoperator can cause to be drawn toward or pushed away from each otherwith the' threaded shafts 19 travelling in theV arcuate slots 20.

An endless link belt elevator chain 25 extends rearwardly from each ofthe sprockets 23 to an kelevator sprocket 26. The elevator 'chains 25Aare providedwith v.spaced apart Vlifting prongs 34, `as shown in Fig.6. A chain tightening bar 36 is placed in the path of the descendingside of each elevating belt. The bars 36 are pivoted at their middlesand are provided with idler wheelsat their extremities over which theelevator belt travels. Tension springs 37 constantly `tend to turn thebars 36s() as to place. a constant tension in the link belts. n

'Ihe elevator sprockets 2,6 are supported on A,short stud shafts whichare carried in suitable ljournal brackets 27. The journal brackets V27are 'nmounted upon lateral anglel members 28, which are .in turn hinged,as vshown at 29, to the frame .1o.` ,l y

Ihe elevator sprockets 26 are driven from lcounter shafts 30, therebeing one counter shaft for each pair of sprockets,A as shown inrFig. 5.The countershafts V30 are supported in suitable bearings on'the anglemembers28 and terminate in driven sprockets 31. The drivensprockets 31leo Atc-

ly from the yokes 18 in front of the sprockets 23V. These plows areprovided with guide prongs"'44 which act to lift and gather the vines1:into the,

channel formed by the guide members 353m In use, the machine is drawnalong two' rows of vines. The cutting blades 24 are positioned by.

means of the crank nuts 21 so as to cut the .vines approximately at theground surfacev and the.

blades are aligned with the rows by the means of the crank 38.Y The vinelifting plows lift the vlnes from the ground before they are severed sothat they will not bedamagedby the knives. The prongs'. ,34 ythen engagethe vines and slide them between the. channel members 35 to the rear ofthe machine. The operator is seated upon a suitable seat 45 where he caneasily reach the crank 38 for-.directing the blades along the rows andthe cranks. 21 for elevating or lowering the blades while. the .machineis in operation. y

The vines can. be collected at the rear of the machinejn any suitablereceiving apparatus or can, iI desired, be allowed to pile along the tworows beingharvested. It is preferred, however, to provide an elevatingand piling device as illustrated. 'I'heelevating and piling devicecomprises a conveyorirame 46Within which an endless conveyor belt 4.7isarranged to. travel. At its forwardextremity the .conveyorframe v46 ispivoted upon .a pivotshaft 48 supported upon the rear- Ward' extensionof the longitudinal frame member 1'6. At its rearward. extremity itissupported by hangers 49` which arel pivotally. connected to a .bracket50 Whicliprojectsupwardly and rearwardly from the .frame 10.' Thevbracket 50 is braced bymeansofa tension member 51. It can 4be readilyseen fromthe above that the conveyor framer46 can be readilyswungtoeither side of the machine. AA suitable sack or collector 52 1sarranged 'at the terminus of the elevator to re- 50 cei've the vines.

The conveyor belt.47 is operated from one of jthev drive .wheels 12throughv the. medium of a vsprocket 53 over which one of the drivechains 32 is" trained, as shownin Fig. 3. vAn idler sprocket 55 541s..emp1oyed to force the chainabout bothV the sprocket 53 and the drivesprocket 31. The sprocket. 53 .drivesa conveyor driveshaft 55, inywhichI suitable universal joint v56 is inserted. The inner ,extremityA`of .theshaft 55 is journaled in' a ,bracketbearing' 57. upon the framemember 16 andis provided with a bevel vpinion 58y which drives an' idlerbevel gear 59, which is arranged to rotateabout the pivot .48.

. The rotationofthe idler'bevel gear 5 9A is transv ber so as to alignthem with the plant' rows; .threaded studs extending upwardly from saidthe medium of a short sprocket chain 67 with a roller sprocket 68 whichis carried on the shaft of one of the rollers over which the conveyorbelt 47 vis trained. The upper reach of the conveyor belt 47 ismaintained horizontal at its forward extremity by means of inwardlyprojecting guide anges or slides 69. The conveyor frame is held in anyvdesired position by means of an extendable angle brace 70.'

The vines fall fromthe delivery end of the elevator chains 25 upon theconveyor belt 47 and are then elevated and deposited in the collector.52. j :The collector may be provided with any de- .connected from thefoot pedal 72 to the clutch yoke 66 so that each time the operator dumpsthe collector52 the conveyor belt 47 will stop so as not to scattervines through the open bottom of the collector.'k When pressure on ,thefoot pedal 72 is released to' 'close the collector vthe spring 65 willthen throw the clutch sprocket 64 into engagement with the clutch dog 63and start the 2 conveyor. Y O

. Each pair of channel members 35 is maintained in spaced relation bymeans of a cross brace as illustrated in Fig. 7.v Each of these 'crossbraces are formed from two downwardly looped, inter- ,Y locking bars 73,one of which is vertically movable within the other, as illustrated. Theuppermost bar is constantly pulled down by means of a compression spring74.and a bolt 75. In describing the function vof this flexible crossbrace it is necessary to note that one of the circular knives 24overlaps'the other as yshown in Fig. Y4. The knife bearingsare'connected to the guide members 35.V Thus, since the.v spring 74constantly acts to pull one of the guide members down andpush theotherbne up it will also act to constantly push the two knives togetherand will allow them to separate should a stone or stick come betweenthem. l

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may bevaried,` within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

. Having thus described the invention, what is .claimed and desiredsecured by yLetters Patent ,along the rows; al pair` ofco-acting chainsarranged to engage the sides of and elevate the cut plants between them;means for receiving the .plants-from said chains; Aand a pair of channelmembers arranged to slidably support said plants as they areelevated,said channel members being spaced apart to allow an intervening slot for.ber; cutting knives journalled on the lower extremities of said yokes;means for varying the lateral position of said yokes on said cross mem-Iyokes through arcuate slots in said cross member; and rotatable. nutscarriedl by said studs to vary the height of said knives.

3. A harvesting machine comprising: a sup-V1150 porting frame; drivewheels supporting the rear extremity of said frame; guide wheelssupporting the forward extremity of said frame; conveyor membersextending from above the rear VextremityrofA said frame downwardly andoutwardly below f the forward extremity of said frame so as to align attheir lforward extremities with two plant rows;

rotary cutting knives journalled vat the forward extremities of saidconveyor members and adaptied to sever the plants 'along the rows: guidemem-` bers extending forwardly from said cutting knives so" as toelevate the plants beforethe cutting operation; a channel memberextending rearwardmembers extending from above the rear extremi-y ty ofsaid frame downwardly and outwardly below the forward extremity of saidframe so as to align'at their forward extremities with two` plant rows;j rotary cutting ,A knives journalled at 'the forward extremities ofsaid conveyor members and adapted to sever the plants along the rows;guide members extending forwardly from said cutting knives so as toelevate the plants before thecutting operation; and means for causingtheforward extremitiesof said conveyor members to approach or move awayfrom eachother so as to align them with adjacent plant rows. Y

5. A harvesting machine comprising: a sup-V porting frame; drive wheelssupportingthe rear extremity of said frame; guide wheels support-` ingthe forward extremity of said' fram'e; conveyor members extending from'above the rear extremity of said frame downwardly and outwardly belowthe forward extremity of said frame so as to align at their forwardextremities with` two plant rows; rotarycuttingknives journalledcomprising, a yokesupportingthe forward ex-V at the forward extremitiesof said conveyor members and adapted to sever the plants along the rows;guide members extending forwardly from said cutting knives so as'toelevate the plants be# fore the cutting operation; means for causing theforward extremities of said conveyor members to approach or move awayfrom each other so as to align them with adjacent plant rows,` saidmeans tremity of each conveyor member, said yoke being laterally movablein said frame; a lever connected at each of its extremities to one ofsaid yokes; and means for swinging saidlever so as t'o cause said yokesto move away from or toward'eachotherr- 6. A harvestingv machinecomprising: a supporting frame; drive wheels supporting the rearextremity of'said frame; guide wheels supporting the forward extremityof Vsaid frame; conveyor `members extending. from above the rear extremity of said frame downwardly and outward-Y ly below the Aforwardextremity of said frame so as to align at their forward extremities withtwo plant rows;V rotary cutting knives journalled at the forwardextremities of said conveyor members and adaptedto sever the plantsalong the` rows; guide members extending forwardly from said cuttingknivesA so as to elevate the plants before the';cutting operation; meansfor causing the forward extremities of said conveyor members to approach'or move away from each other so as to align the'm with adjacent plantrows; and

means for Vraising or lowering each yoke inde- 1 pendent of the otheryoke.

7. A harvesting machine comprising: a supporting frame; drive wheelssupporting the rear Vextremity of said frame; guide wheels supporting Ythe forward extremity of said frame; conveyor members extending fromabove the rear extremity .of said frame downwardly and outwardly belowthe forward extremity of said iframe so as to align at their forwardextremities Withtwo'plant rows; rotary cutting knives journalled at theforward extremities of said conveyor members and adapted to sever theplants along the rows;

guide members extending forwardly from ,saidV cutting knives so as toelevate the plants before the cutting operation, Vsaidconvey `:rrmembers being universally'hinged adjacent and Vrearward said extremitiesso thattheir forward extremities -may be independently raised or loweredor moved Y v laterally. .l

8. In a vine harvesting machine, means for cutting said vinescomprising: a U-shaped yoke adapt-ed to extend overand downwardly oneach side of a rowof vines; co-acting-rotary cutting knives carried bythe lower extremities of saidy VU -shaped yoke adapted to vmove alongVsaid row; a drive chain for each of said knives, said chains Y'co-acting to convey the cut vines' rearwardly; and a channel memberabove each of said chains adaptedV to support said vines as they areconveyed rearwardly by said chains. v Y

' 9. A harvesting machine arranged to be drawn along rows of plantscomprising: knives arranged 'to cut the plants along the rows: flexibleelevating mediums adapted to engageopposite sides of said plants andconvey them rearwardly and upwardly; and a pair of longitudinallyextending vslides positioned parallel to said elevating medi- Vums andarranged to slidably supportsaid plantsY as Vthey are elevated,said'slides being spaced apart to allow an intervening'slot for thepassage of thestems of said plants. i

ONTJE POEN. V135

